The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-03-27

Nell worked at great printing and pub
fishing house, and earned pound week.
1t seemed q pitiful sum, and she hardly
knew how she made both ends meet with
it; but she was rigid economist, and gen.
orally had few pennies with which to
buy delicaeics for her little invalid sister,
who had been her constant care since, two
years before, they were left orphans.
Nell had day-dreams sometimes, but
they did not interfere with the practical
issues of life and the foreman of the room
where she worked considered her his best
hand.
On the floor above was the bindery.
Nell knew the foreman, middle-aged
Scotchman, who had been in the employ
of the firm since boyhood. and that day at
noon she sought him out in his little Office,
rallied off in one corner of the great room.
"Mr Carnagie, she said, breaking the
string that confined the manuscript of her
book, 81 want to ask a favor of you"
sWell?" said the foreman interrogative-
ly, speaking with strong Scotch accent
five got some manuscript here-some
little stories that have written out from
time to time for my crippled sisters bene-
fit. If were rich I'd have them printed,
although I'm not fool enough to believe
they possess any merit except for her. I've
made the manuscript as much like book
page as possible, with wide margins all
around, and want to know if you'll bind
it for me in one of those pretty gift book
covers, with these letters stamped in gold
on the front, sEssie in Fairyland, by Sister
Nell want to"
"I can't do IT." said the foreman, little
gruffiy, shaking his head; ssit's contrary to
orders. One of those gift-bindings is worth
five shillings. You'll have to see the man
ager down stairs. He don't hire me to give
away his stock"
every well, cried Nell, snatching up the
manuscript with defiant toss OF her head.
81 have done you many fayors and you
can do this if you want to. It's not likely
that I'd ask the manager, but the books
got to be bound if it costs me weeks
pay"
She Aouneed out of the room, the angry
crimson dyeing her face, and went straight
to the business Office down stairs.
s'What'll it cost to have this bound in
one of those fancy gift-book covers?" she
asked of Mr.. johnson, the business man
ager of the house, not noticing that Mr..
Cyril Cawthorne, the junior member of the
great publishing houss of Cawthorne and
Son, and the head of the literary depart
ment, was standing close beside the bust
ness managers high desk.
Mr. Johnson picked up the package of
manuscript, on the first page of which was
picture done in water-colors, crude, like
all the rest, but drawn and colored by the
same free hand that gave all her pictures
life and character.
He glanced from it to the face of the
girl.
ssYou're one of our young women up
stairs, are you not ?" he asked.
eyes, sir"
SIT is not our custom to charge our en-
ployes anything for little jobs like this"
and turning to young Mr.. Cawthorne, he
handed him Nells precious manuscript.
''We won't charge one of our hands any,
thing for binding this
Mr.. Cawthorne took the manuscript, and
without answering, began turning the
leaves.
The manager walked away, leaving Nell
still standing in front of the desk.
Mr.. CawthorEe seemed interested in
reading what the girl had written down,
and in examining her crude pictures,
the minutes passed away, and he neithef
looked at her nor spoke.
When the hands on the clock above the
desk indicated five minutes to one, Nell
'It you please, SIR" she began, Fl"
sWhere did you get these stories?" de-
manded Mr.. Cawthorne with sudden ear
nestness, tapping the manuscript with his
long forefnger and raising his specialized
eyes to Nell's face.
'sThey airs mine, she answered; 81 wrote
them out"
edo you mean to say that you composed
them, and that these drawings are yours 2
Eyes, sir. / know they are not very
good, but my little lame sister thinks they
are grand, and it is to please her that I
put them in that shape, and want them
bound, so that she can read them over
while am at work"
''Ahem! Miss"
sGwinett"
s'Yes; Miss Gwinett, want to talk tc
you. Walk into my Office, please"
And before Nell could realize what it all
meant, she found herself seated in the
publishers private Office, telling him the
story of her life, and how the fairy stories
cnme to be written, and all her hopes and
plans and ambitions.
When at length she finished, the pub
Usher spoke with an earnestness that near
ly took Nelrs breath away.
s'These stories, he said, ssare capital
at least, if can judge from one that l
have just read-and your sister is a most
excellent critic. Our house has been
wanting to publish book like this for
some time, and if you'll allow me I'll make
You an offer for the manuscript including
The sketches
''Sir ?" said Nellie
And she beg IN to feel faint and giddy,
and the room sw am around her.
s'Illgiye you one hundred pounds down.
and if the book proves the success that
venture to say it will, the usual royalty
after all expenses have been paid make
ibis offer without reading the manuscript.
nent is correos by further perasal.
He turned to the manuscript, and Nell,
eft to herself, could only sit and stare
rAight ahead at the opposite wall, on
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